Joe Biden, the 82-year-old former U.S. President, has set a modern record for the days he spent on vacation while in office.
According to the New York Post, during his presidency, Biden was absent from the White House for 577 days, which represents 39% of his term.
The information, collected by the Republican National Committee, paints a stark contrast to Biden's predecessors. Over 1,463 days, Biden's time away from the Oval Office exceeded that of any other president in the past five decades.
Joe Biden's nearest competitor was George H.W. Bush, who spent 37% of his presidency on vacation. Notably, George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan each vacationed for about 35% and 11% of their presidencies, respectively. Biden also surpassed Donald Trump, who was away for 26% of his term.
Post his presidency, scrutiny on Biden increased, especially after Democrats pressed him to forego a re-election bid in July 2021. Following this, he reportedly spent 61% of his time on vacations.
Popular retreats for Biden included Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, the Santa Ynez Valley in California, Camp David, Wilmington, Delaware; Nantucket, and St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.
Amidst Biden’s frequent vacations, he nonetheless achieved a historic number of presidential pardons and commutations. This tally includes a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden.
His vacation habits came under intense media scrutiny. Specifically, images of Biden at Rehoboth Beach in July 2023 led to widespread derision and criticism across various media platforms.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis commented on Biden's presidency regarding his policy impacts and vacation frequency. She sardonically remarked on the potentially greater dangers of a more consistently active Biden presidency.
"Considering how awful his misguided policies were and the various crises they created, from the border to inflation, imagine the damage he would have done if he worked every day. I'm not sure if we should be mad or thankful he worked so little."
Zach Parkinson, Communication Director for the Republican National Committee, also shared a cheeky reflection on Biden's transition from office, linking his departure with a return to stability under former President Trump.
"Thanks to the mandate delivered by voters in November, Joe Biden and [former Vice President] Kamala Harris are now on a permanent vacation. And thanks to President Trump, our country is back on track." Biden's representatives remained silent, not responding to inquiries about his considerable vacation time.
In comparison to his predecessors, Joe Biden’s choice to spend a significant part of his presidency on vacation has sparked a national conversation about the dedication and presence required of the highest office in the land. His record-setting vacation days, juxtaposed with his landmark number of pardons and the ongoing criticism, sketch a complex legacy. This adds a unique layer to the historical examination of presidential terms.
Joe Biden's vacation days set a record among recent U.S. presidents and drew widespread scrutiny, making his term a subject of significant public and political discourse.
